New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Whelk — (hw[e^]lk), n. [OE. welk, wilk, AS. weoloc, weloc, wiloc. Cf. {Whilk}, and {Wilk}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one numerous species of large marine gastropods belonging to {Buccinum} and allied genera; especially, {Buccinum undatum}, common on the coasts… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Whelk — Whelk, n. [OE. whelke, dim. of whele. See {Wheal} a pustule.] [1913 Webster] 1. A papule; a pustule; acne. His whelks white. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. A stripe or mark; a ridge; a wale. [1913 Webster] {Chin whelk} (Med.), sycosis. {Rosy whelk}… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
whelk — [welk] n [: Old English; Origin: hweoloc] a small sea animal that has a shell and can be eaten … Dictionary of contemporary English
whelk — [ welk, hwelk ] noun count a small SHELLFISH that lives along the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is sometimes eaten as food … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
whelk — large marine snail, O.E. weoloc, wioloc, from P.Gmc. *weluka (Cf. M.Du. willoc, Du. wulk), perhaps from PIE root *wel to turn, revolve (see VULVA (Cf. vulva); Cf. also VOLUTE (Cf. volute)). The spelling with wh dates from 15c … Etymology dictionary
whelk — ► NOUN ▪ a predatory marine mollusc with a heavy pointed spiral shell, some kinds of which are edible. ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
whelk — [hwelk, welk] n. [ME welke < OE wioluc < IE base * wel , to turn (with reference to the spiral shell) > WALK] any of various families (esp. Buccinidae) of large marine snails which are often carnivorous and edible … English World dictionary
Whelk — Taxobox name = PAGENAME image width = 250px image caption = A lightning whelk shell found on a Gulf of Mexico beach in Louisiana. regnum = Animalia phylum = Mollusca classis = Gastropoda subclassis = Orthogastropoda superordo = Caenogastropoda… … Wikipedia
whelk — whelk1 /hwelk, welk/, n. any of several large, spiral shelled, marine gastropods of the family Buccinidae, esp. Buccinum undatum, that is used for food in Europe. [bef. 900; late ME, aspirated var. of ME welk, OE weoloc] whelk2 /hwelk, welk/, n.… … Universalium
whelk — UK [welk] / US / US [hwelk] noun [countable] Word forms whelk : singular whelk plural whelks a small shellfish that lives along the coast of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is sometimes eaten as food … English dictionary
